Hot water heater and the like



' Jan. 22, 1935. R. P. WILSON 1,989,047

HOT WATER HEATER AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 5, 1932 1i 1; j 1 W??? I H 'i i" I 1 j i +47 i H V: M7 |||I I .i l l i U 7 II 5 4 21:: I: 1 i i i-li i 7 15 l I Z 5 V? 14 10 UL X 1/ 1 2,

RoBERrBI/Vuawv.

ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOT WATER HEATER AND THE LIKE Robert P. Wilson, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application February 5, 1932, Serial No. 591,220

13 Claims.

My invention relates to hot water heaters and more particularly to an improvement in heating systems for heating liquids which are adapted to the storage type of structure in which the liquid is conveyed to and over a thermostat before entering into the tank proper. The object of this invention is to provide a hot water heater with a provision for utilizing the heat generated by the combustion of the fuel for maintaining the temperature of the liquid in the storage tank. Another object is to provide a heater in which there will be a minimum disturbance of sediment and less tendency of such sediment being drawn through the coils and hot water out-. let. An advantage of this invention is that the coils may be removed for cleaning or renewal without disassembling the heater.

Another object is to construct a hot water heater in which means are provided for conducting the water directly from the supply to and through the coil so as to flush the coil with a scouring eflect upon each withdrawal of water and during the time of such withdrawal. Other objects and advantages of my invention will be fully explained in the following description and the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the heater.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing a variation in the structure.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the device, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference are used to indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

This device consists of a tank 1 which is provided with an insulating jacket 2 for protecting the sides and top of the tank. The tank 1 may be divided into two chambers by the insertion of a partition 4 which is made rigid within the tank 1. The upper part of the tank 1 is provided with an auxiliary tank 3 which is placed in or above the tank 1 and supported above the partition 4 by means of legs or supports 5. These supports 5 are made rigid with the lower portion of the tank 3 and the partition 4. The auxiliary tank 3 is of such proportions as to leave a sufflcient space between the outer walls of the tank 3 and the inner walls of the tank 1 for the passage of the heat from the burner.

Provision is made for the passage of the fluid from one tank to the other by means 01' a single connection 6. The connection 6 is made rigid with the base of the tank 3 and the partition 4 and assists the supports 5 in the support or the auxiliary tank 3 in the tank 1. ,A hot water coil 11 is used for circulating the water therethrough and heating the same and this coil is 5 placed within the tank 1 so that the 'products of combustion from the burner 12 may be used to maintain the temperature of the water in the tank 1. The coil 11 is provided, with a Jacket or jacketing flue 7 which protects the coil and permits the water in the tank 1 to circulate around the flue or coil jacket 7. The jacket 7 may be made open at both ends and extend from the bottom of the tank 1 up to and connect with the partition 4 or the tank 1, as shown in Fig. 1, or the jack may be constructed so as to form a recess 16 in the side of the tank 1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The object is to provide space in the tank 1 for the coil 11 so that the radiation from the coil and jacket may be utilized for heating the water or fluid in the tank 1.

Water is supplied to the tank 1 by means oi. a supply pipe '7' which projects through the tank irom the top to the bottom of the tank 1. The lower end oi the pipe 7' is provided with a pipe 8 which is adapted to receive a thermostat 10. An opening 9 is provided in the pipe 8 for the escape or the water into the tank 1. The lower end of the coil 11 projects through the side of the jacket 'I and is provided with a connection with the pipe 8 so as to direct the water from the supply pipe 7' through the coil 11. The pipe 8 may project through the bottom of the tank 1, as shown in Fig. 1, or it may project out one side of the tank 1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

When the upper end of the jacket '7 is closed, as shown in Fig. 2, the burnt gasses may be passed through the device by means of a vent 17 which extends from the upper part of the jacket 7 up through and out the top of the tank 1.

In Fig. 1 the upper end of the coil 11 connects with the bottom of the auxiliary tank 3 so that the water passing through the coil is conveyed into the tank 3. In this view the burnt gasses pass around the auxiliary tank 3 and out the vent 17 in the top of the tank 1.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the upper portion of the coil 11 passes through the top of the jacket 7 and conveys the water into the tank 1. A pipe 18 is provided in the upper part oi the tank 1 for drawing off hot water from the device. In Fig. 1 the pipe 18 for drawing oil the hot water is connected to the upper end of the auxiliary tank 3.

A burner 12 is located in the lower end of the jacket 7 and fuel is supplied to the burner by means oi a supply pipe 13. Control of the fuel is provided with a thermostatic valve 14 which is connected in the pipe 13v and this valve is provided with a thermostat 10 which projects into the water pipe 8. A grate 20 may be attached to the bottom of the tank 1 below the jacket 'I and this grate or pan is provided with perforations to regulate the amount of air into the jacket for causing the natural circulation through the vent 17. A baiiie 21 of suitable insulating material may be interposed between the pan 20 and the bottom of the tank 1. The lower end of the tank 1 is provided with a drain 22 for removal of the sediment that may collect in the bottom of the tank.

By placing the coil 11 within the tank the fluid is permitted to flow around the coil jacket 7 and the heat radiating from the coil 11 and coil jacket 7 is utilized for maintaining the temperature of the fluid in the tank 1. The arrangement of the inlet and outlet of the fluid to the tank causes the coil to be flushed when hot water is drawn 01!. The water inlet to the tank 1 may extend to the lower portion 0! the tank and circulate into the coil 11 without making a direct connection between the coil and the supply pipe. It is apparent that the arrangement of the various parts of this device make them accessible for repair and adjustment.

Various changes may be made in the sizes, arrangement, and proportions of the parts without I departing from the spirit of this invention.-

In Fig. 1 the vent or jacket '1 permits the products of combustion from the burner 12 to pass over the coil 11 to the auxiliary tank 3 and be directed around the tank 3 and through the flues 23. The flues 23 pass longitudinally through the tank 3 and are made rigid therein.

What I claim, is:

1. In a hot water heater and the like comprising a tank and an auxiliary tank cooperating therewith, a coil jacket carried by said tank, a heater coil disposed within said jacket and arranged to convey water from said first named tank to said auxiliary tank, a single water connection between said tanks, a water supply pipe projected through said auxiliary tank and said.

connection into said flrst named tank, said jacket being provided with an opening in each end thereof, a burner disposed in the bottom of said jacket, means for directing the products of combustion from said burner around said coil and through said jacket to said auxiliary tank, and means for the removal of hot water therefrom.

2. In a water heater, comprising a tank havin a partition rigidly attached therein, a coil jacket carried by said tank and arranged to project from the bottom of said tank to said partition, an auxiliary tank spaced above said partition, a coil disposed within said jacket and arranged to convey water from said tank to said auxiliary tank, a single connection extending from the top of said tank to the bottom of said auxiliary tank for the passage of water from one to the other, means projected through said connection to supply water to said tanks, means to withdraw water from said tanks, and means to heat said tanks.

3. In a water heater, comprising a tank, an auxiliary tank, a jacket carried in said tank, below said auxiliary tank, a connection from the top of said tank to the bottom of said auxiliary tank for the passage 0! water, a water conveying means disposed within said jacket and connecting said tanks, means for conveying a water supply through said auxiliary tank and said connection to said first named tank, means for withdrawing water from said tanks, and means of heating said tanks.

4. A liquid heater comprising two tanks spaced apart and arranged one above the other, a heater disposed at the lower end of the lower tank, a flue for said heater extending through the lower tank and terminating below the bottom oi the upper tank, a coil carried within said flue, means for conducting liquid into said lower tank, means for conducting liquid from said lower tank into said coil, means for conducting liquid from said coil into said upper tank, a single means for conducting liquid from said upper tank to said lower tank,'and means for drawing 011 hot liquid from said upper tank.

5. A water heater comprising a storage tank having a coil jacket projected therein, an auxiliary tank disposed above said storage tank, a coil carried in said jacket and connected to said tanks to aflord communication therebetween, a single water connection between said tanks means for directing water supply through said a ary tank and said connection to said storage t nk and said coil, said connection preventing a circulation of water from one tank to the other except through said coil, and means for withdrawing water from said heater.

6. In a hot water heater comprising a storage tank, a coil jacket therein, a coil disposed within said jacket and arranged in circulatory communication with said tank, supply means for direct-. ing fluid into said tank adjacent to the intake 0! said coil, said means of supply being directly connected to said coil and arranged to flush the same, means for heating said jacket and coil, and means for drawing oil the hot liquid.

7. In a hot water heater and the like comprising a tank and an auxiliary tank co-operating therewith, a coil jacket in the flrst named tank, a heater coil disposed within said jacket and arranged to convey water from said ilrst named tank to said auxiliary tank, a connection between said tanks, a water supply pipe projected through said auxiliary tank into said first named tank, said water supply pipe being directly connected to said coil and arranged to flush the same, said jacket being provided with an opening in each end thereof, a burner disposed in the bottom or said jacket, means for directing the products of combustion from said burner around said coil and through said jacket to said auxiliary tank, and means for the removal of hot water therefrom.

8. In a water heater comprising a storage tank, a coil jacket therein, a coil disposed within said jacket and connected with said tank, supply means projecting into said tank and directly connected to said coil for directing a supply of fluid into said coil and arranged to flush said coil, said supply means also having communication with the interior of said tank adjacent the inlet of said coil.

9. In a hot water heater comprising a storage tank, a coil jacket therein, a heater coil within said jacket and arranged in circulatory communication with said tank, a burner for heating said coil, a water supply pipe projected into said tank and directly connected to said coil and arranged to direct the force of water into said coil, and a valve co-acting with said burner and having an actuating thermostat projecting into said supply pipe, whereby the coil is flushed and the burner started simultaneously upon the withdrawal of water from said tank.

10. A liquid heater comprising a storage tank,

a heating coil arranged in circulatory communication w'ith said tank, a liquid supply means directly connected to said coil for directing the supply of fluid into said coil and arranged to flush said coil, said supply means also having communication with interior of said tank, means for heating said coil, and means for withdraw-. ing liquid from said tank.

11. A liquid heater comprising a storage tank, a heating coil in circulatory communication with said tank, a heater for said heatingcoil, a liquid supply means projected into said tank and arranged to direct the liquid into said coil to flush the same, .a fuel valvearranged to control said heater and an actuating thermostat projecting into said supply means and arranged to control said valve whereby the coil is flushed and the heater started simultaneously upon the withdrawal of liquid from said tank.

12. A liquid heater comprising two tanks, a single connection for liquid between said tanks, a coil connected to said tanks to afford a communication therebetween, a liquid supply means for directing liquid into said coil and arranged to flush said coil, means for heating said coil and means for withdrawing liquid from said heater.

13. A liquid heater comprising two tanks spaced apart and arranged one above the other, a heating coil in circulatory communication with said tanks, a liquid supply pipe projected into one of said tanks and arranged to direct the force of water into said coil to flush the same, a single conduit means for liquid between said upper tank and said lower tank, said single conduit means preventing a'circulation of liquid from one tank to the other except through said coil, and means for withdrawing liquid irom said heater.

ROBERT P. WILSON. 

